Folk Singer Frank J. Thomas Chosen for Artists Hall of Fame

LAKE WALES | Frank J. Thomas, a folk singer and longtime Lake Wales resident, is one of three people who will be inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in March.

By GARY WHITETHE LEDGER

LAKE WALES | Frank J. Thomas, a folk singer and longtime Lake Wales resident, is one of three people who will be inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in March.Thomas, 68, joins Gloria Estefan, the so-called Queen of Latin Pop, and the late painter Laura Woodward as the 2013 inductees.Thomas and his late wife, Ann Thomas, performed for more than 20 years at the Florida Folk Festival in White Springs. Frank Thomas played guitar and Ann played string bass.The couple, known for such comical numbers as "Cracker Love Song," previously received the Florida Folk Heritage Award.Thomas performed regularly at Carl Allen's Historical Cafe in Auburndale before its closing in 1998 and played in the Florida Bluegrass Festival, which was held in Auburndale in the 1990s. The Thomases hosted a long-running radio show, "Songs of Florida," on Tampa's WMNF.Frank Thomas toured in a rock 'n' roll band as a teenager and later played at the Grand Ole Opry with the Arkansas Travelers. He turned to folk singing under the influence of the late Will McLean, a folk singer already in the Hall of Fame.The Florida Legislature established the Hall of Fame in 1986. Previous inductees include Zora Neale Hurston, Ray Charles and Jimmy Buffett.The induction ceremony will take place March 20 in Tallahassee.